Pakistan look to salvage Olympic pride after hockey debacle

KARACHI: After Pakistan failed to carve a niche in the hockey competitions of the next year’s Rio Olympics, judo and boxing are the only disciplines left where the country has a slight hope to make a cut for the quadrennial spectacle.
Japan-based Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Asian bronze medallist, Shah Hussain Shah, is the potential hope to win a medal for the country at the Rio Games.
As per International Judo Federation’s (IJF) rankings released on July 8, Shah experienced one place slump, slipping to 51 from his previous month’s 50the spot in the -100 kilogramme. He will need to enter into thirties before the end of May 2016 if he wants to become the first judoka in Pakistan’s history to qualify for the Olympics.
In a bid to achieve his target he will need to play in maximum major international events during the same time-frame. Currently his eyes are on the World Championships which will be held in Astana from August 20-31.
“It’s a very important event for me. I will have to score more points in it to enhance my ranking,” Shah told ‘The News’ from Tokyo on Saturday.
Shah, who is also a student of Tsukuba University, said he had been undergoing tough physical training.
“After two weeks I will also undergo a mountain training for four days. And then I will join Japan’s national camp at a training centre near Tokyo,” Shah said.
Shah is the son of former Pakistan’s Olympian boxer Hussain Shah who has been training professional boxers in Tokyo.
Pakistan hockey team’s failure to qualify for Olympics has also saddened Shah Hussain.
“It’s unfortunate. Now if they failed to qualify, at least I should qualify for Rio,” he said.
Shah, a few days ago, was declared the best athlete of All Japan Inter-Universities Games.
In boxing all eyes are on star boxer Mohammad Waseem. Last year was the most successful for Quetta-born player who lifted silver medal in Glasgow Commonwealth Games and bronze in Incheon Asian Games.
As Shah has been availing good training facilities in Japan, Waseem has been fighting against all odds to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers.
Since Incheon Asian Games Waseem has not played a single international bout during eight to nine months which is a worrying sign for Pakistan’s most successful boxer.
Waseem, last month, toured Korea with three other boxers for a fortnight training. He needs much tougher training. Effort is being made to send him to Japan ahead of the ASBC Continental Boxing Championship to be held in Bangkok from August 26 to September 5.
The event also serves as qualifiers for World Championship to be held in Doha in October. World Championship serves as qualifiers for Rio. Pakistan, in boxing, will also try their luck for Rio early next year in the Asian qualifying round.
Besides hope in boxing and judo, Pakistan are more likely to get wild card entries for Rio in swimming, athletics and shooting.
Sprinter Liaquat Ali, who also appeared in 2012 Lodon Olympics, once again seems a strong candidate for the wild card because of his fine individual performances both at home and abroad during the last few years.
Dubai-based swimmer Lianna Swan, London-based Anum Bandey, her brother Haris Bandey and Karachi-born Saad Amin have been performing well at national level swimming competitions. And a couple of them may get wild card entries for Rio Games.
Anum Bandey in 2012 became the third Pakistani female swimmer who made her Olympic debut when she took part in London Olympics. Israr Hussain was the other swimmer who was part of London Games.
Rubab Raza was the first Pakistani woman swimmer who featured in 2004 Athens Olympics. The country’s ever successful Kiran Khan then followed Rubab with her appearance in subsequent 2008 Beijing Olympics.